ED DONOHOE was understandably pleased when the hammer fell on the last lot at Thursday’s inaugural Goresbridge sale of point-to-point and National Hunt horses.

A clearance rate of 82% from the 39 lots on offer, a large presence of British buyers thanks to a targeted campaign by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, and many satisfied vendors combined to give the company boss every reason to be happy with his decision to reintroduce a sale of thoroughbreds at the Co Kilkenny venue.